Musanze: Poverty Rate Drops from 53.6% to 21.98% in Eight Years
The Mayor of Musanze District, Nsengimana Claudien, has presented an eight-year progress report showing that the district has made significant strides in reducing poverty. According to the report, the poverty rate has steadily declined, with optimism that figures to be released at the beginning of 2026 will show even further improvement.
He made these remarks during a consultative meeting on Musanze District’s development held on Friday, January 23, 2026.
The meeting brought together district leaders, private sector representatives, security organs, the military, and other development partners, with the aim of jointly assessing factors that promote citizens’ welfare as well as identifying challenges that still need to be addressed to further improve living standards.
The meeting served as a platform for self-assessment and for celebrating achievements made in economic development, good governance, and social welfare during 2025 and previous years, while also reviewing existing challenges and agreeing on appropriate solutions.
Among the key achievements highlighted by Mayor Claudien was the prevailing security, which enables private investors to operate freely and serves as a strong driver of development. He emphasized that this achievement is largely attributed to the effective work of security institutions.
The private sector was identified as a critical pillar in the development of Musanze District in the Northern Province. Many private investments are playing a central role in the modernization of the town, including the construction of modern multi-storey buildings in both the city center and its outskirts.
The mayor noted visible progress such as ongoing building construction, completed and newly developed roads, all resulting from strong collaboration between public and private stakeholders. These efforts have contributed to improved access to health services, education, and various government and private programs aimed at supporting citizens.
Musanze District is composed of 15 sectors, 68 cells, and 432 villages. According to the 2022 population census, the district has a population of 476,522 people, of whom 49.2% live in urban areas while 50.8% reside in rural areas, with a population density of 1,167 people per square kilometer.
Comparative data shows that in 2018, Musanze’s poverty rate stood at 53.6%, but by 2025 it had dropped significantly to 21.98%. Extreme poverty also declined sharply from 26.2% to 5.6% over the same period.
However, employment creation and job opportunities aimed at combating unemployment did not show the desired progress, as the unemployment rate increased from 11% to 13% in 2025.
Meanwhile, literacy levels improved markedly, with the proportion of residents able to read and write rising from 55% in 2018 to 79.4%, although both areas were identified as still requiring additional effort.
Over the past eight years, the proportion of residents living in urban areas increased from 27.7% to 49.2%. Access to clean water improved from 91% to 92.5%, while household sanitatio coverage rose from 86% to 96.3%.
The rate of stunting among children under five declined from 45% to 31%. Health insurance coverage under the Community-Based Health Insurance scheme (Mutuelle de Santé) increased from 79% to 99.5% by 2026.
The district leadership stated that the goal is to close the remaining gap and reach 100% coverage, noting that coverage stood at 99.9% in 2025.
Musanze District continues to demonstrate strong commitment to improving citizens’ welfare. Last year, satisfaction with services provided by local government institutions improved significantly, with Musanze moving from the lowest rank among all 30 districts to 12th place, with satisfaction levels rising from 72% to 82%.
The mayor called on all stakeholders to continue contributing to the development of Musanze as a complementary city to Kigali, noting that the district has not yet reached its desired level of growth as a modern hub for commerce and tourism.